1. Transitioning from Pagan Rome to Christian Rome
The Middle Ages w/ Mr. C

2. Major Events: Tetrarchy

3. Diocletian Hard-headed but a successful soldier
Saw the lack of a stable central authority
Fixed it
Powers & Privileges of the Senate disappeared or became meaningless
Senate was reduced to basically a local city council.
Empire was governed by laws but the emperor was the source for all laws

4. Diocletian The carefully designed political system changed:
Augustus concealed his political dictatorship
Gaius Julius Octavius – later Octavius Caesar
Augustus was an honorific: majestic, venerable
Pontifex Maximus
Princeps senatus
pater patriae
Ecetera
But never imperator
Diocletian sets up an overt, divine-right monarchy based on the eastern model.

5. divine-right monarchy
Oriental mystique
justifies imperial absolutism
The emperor becomes a god on earth
Later after Christianity is accepted this is modified as the divinely ordained representative
A sacred figure set far above humanity
Became an Eastern god-king
Basileus / βασιλεύς
On official occasions jeweled robes, tiara, scepter
People would prostrate themselves

6. Diocletian Builds a palace in Nicomedia
Much power is transferred to the Great Chamberlain
Typically a eunuch in the eastern tradition
Also reorganizes the power of subordinate rulers
Previously the governor was also the head general
Now civilian & military chain of command is seperated
Civilian command – Praetorian Prefect
Military command – Magister Militum

7. Major Events: Theodosius I's Empire 395 AD
Theodosius I was the last Emperor to rule both parts of the Roman Empire.

8. Pressures leading to Rome’s fall
Diocletian and Constantine coped sucessfully with short term financial woes and administrative problems from the civil wars of the mid 3rd century (250’s AD).
But it was a short term gain.

9. Constatine the Great
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